Marlins 5, Cardinals 4

June 14, 2013|Reuters

Marlins 5, Cardinals 4: Rookie Jose Fernandez struck out a season-best 10 in seven innings and Giancarlo Stanton had three hits and two RBIs as Miami defeated visiting St. Louis in the opener of a three-game series.

Greg Dobbs doubled in the tiebreaking run in the fourth inning and Stanton doubled in two in the following inning as the Marlins won for the fourth time in six games. Miami has the worst record in the majors while the Cardinals have the best.

Fernandez (4-3) allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits and settled down after yielding two runs and three hits in the opening inning. Chad Qualls gave up a run-scoring double in the eighth to David Freese and Steve Cishek pitched a flawless ninth for his eighth save in 10 opportunities.

Allen Craig and Yadier Molina posted RBI singles in the opening inning for St. Louis and Miami tied it in the second on an infield out by Jeff Mathis and a bouncing single to center by Fernandez.

Dobbsâ double inside the left-field line off Jake Westbrook (2-2) gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead and Stanton smacked a 3-0 pitch into the left-center field gap in the fifth to make it a three-run game. Jon Jay had a run-scoring double in the sixth to pull the Cardinals within 5-3.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Westbrook allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits in five innings in his first start since May 8 due to an elbow injury. RHP Michael Wacha was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to open a roster spot. â¦ Marlins 1B Logan Morrison was scratched from the lineup due to back soreness. â¦ Craig went 2-for-4 for his seventh multi-hit outing in 12 games.